Tornadoes

1
Tornadoes
2
What Is a Tornado?

• Comes from powerful thunderstorms
• Appears as rotating, funnel-shaped cloud
• Winds reach up to 300 miles per hour
• One of natures most violent storms

3
Other Names for Tornadoes

• Tornadoes are also called
• Twisters
• Cyclones
• Whirlwinds
• The word tornado comes from two Spanish words
• Tronado means thunderstorm
• Tornar means to turn

4
How Doesa Tornado Form?

• Scientists are not exactly sure
• They form when warm, moist air meets cold, dry
  air
• Updrafts develop into massive rotating clouds
  called supercells

5
Tornado Alley
States with the Highest Risk of Tornadoes

• Arkansas
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Minnesota
• Nebraska

• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Texas

6
Tornado Categories
Rank
Winds
Damage
Example
40 72 mph
Broken tree branches, sign boards damaged

• F0

Light
7
Tornado Categories
Rank
Winds
Damage
Example
40 72 mph
Broken tree branches, sign boards damaged

• F0

Light
73 - 112 mph
Surface of roofs peeled off, cars pushed off the
road
F1
Moderate
8
Tornado Categories
Rank
Winds
Damage
Example
40 72 mph
Broken tree branches, sign boards damaged

• F0

Light
73 - 112 mph
Surface of roofs peeled off, cars pushed off the
road
F1
Moderate
113 - 157 mph
Large trees snapped, mobile homes demolished
F2
Considerable
9
Tornado Categories
Rank
Winds
Damage
Example
40 72 mph
Broken tree branches, sign boards damaged

• F0

Light
73 - 112 mph
Surface of roofs peeled off, cars pushed off the
road
F1
Moderate
113 - 157 mph
Large trees snapped, mobile homes demolished
F2
Considerable
158 - 206 mph
Trains overturned, heavy cars lifted off the
ground
F3
Severe
10
Tornado Categories
Rank
Winds
Damage
Example
40 72 mph
Broken tree branches, sign boards damaged

• F0

Light
73 - 112 mph
Surface of roofs peeled off, cars pushed off the
road
F1
Moderate
113 - 157 mph
Large trees snapped, mobile homes demolished
F2
Considerable
158 - 206 mph
Trains overturned, heavy cars lifted off the
ground
F3
Severe
207 - 260 mph
Houses leveled, cars thrown about
F4
Devastating
11
Tornado Categories
Rank
Winds
Damage
Example
40 72 mph
Broken tree branches, sign boards damaged

• F0

Light
73 - 112 mph
Surface of roofs peeled off, cars pushed off the
road
F1
Moderate
113 - 157 mph
Large trees snapped, mobile homes demolished
F2
Considerable
158 - 206 mph
Trains overturned, heavy cars lifted off the
ground
F3
Severe
207 - 260 mph
Houses leveled, cars thrown about
F4
Devastating
261 - 318 mph
Houses carried far distances, trees debarked
F5
Incredible
12
Difference between aWatch and a Warning
A Watch
A Warning

• Tornadoes are possible in your area

• A tornado has been seen in your area

13
What ShouldI Do?

• Tornadoes are hard to predict
• You may only have a few minutes warning
• Take cover immediately
• In a room without windows
• A basement or bathroom or usually best